Vaccine Envy, Quarantine, Oh My!
This is it! We are finally here: the vaccine is available.
After a year of the unknown and fear for the future, the vaccine is available but has an ordeal for some schedule or be qualified for the shot at all. Chandlee Dickey, Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry explained that, “Envy really comes from a place of anger, fear, and sadness.”
As we know there are three vaccines: Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-BioTech, and the Moderna.
Currently, the group of people who have been approved for the shot is only groups one through three as of March 3rd. Most people in the Elon area that currently are vaccinated are considered frontline essential workers. Elon does not plan on discontinuing the mask policy until 80-90% of the Elon community is FULLY vaccinated, meaning both doses have been received.
At this stage in the game, many Elon students and staff have contracted the virus in the last 90 days, which makes them ineligible for the shot. For those who are eligible, last week saw an influx of student workers and teachers receive the first round of the Covid-19 vaccine. And, many local vaccination sites had extra vaccines that frontline workers did not take advantage of, so Elon students were able to take those vaccines.
Sophomore Lindsay Gelaman reveals to The Edge that she drove over two hours to Fayetteville for a chance to get an extra vaccine and was successful. When she arrived at the Walgreens the pharmacist told them over seventy students from Elon had gotten vaccinated there that same day.
A female student who wishes to stay anonymous shares, “I just got the shot and I am having a Covid scare, and I couldn’t be more stressed out. I’ve made it this far and to finally have the chance to be vaccinated and then be infected is my worst nightmare” As if college students don’t have enough on their plate being thrown into a 14-day quarantine when you least expect takes a mental toll.
An Elon first year boy that just rode out his quarantine at The Tru, making him ineligible for the vaccine right now, explains that he doesn’t care about not having the vaccine because he has a “natural vaccine” and “it’s not like if we get the vaccine Elon has any plan to change the mask-wearing policies.”
Surprisingly, we spoke to multiple Elon first year boys recently infected with the virus that feel they “have the natural vaccine” and don’t feel the jealous vibes at all. An anonymous first year boy says, “being in the hotel felt like groundhogs day, I woke up, went to class, watched YouTube, and went to bed. Sometimes I would shower for fun. After being in the Q for 14 days and still not catching the virus after my roommate had, it felt like a waste that I never contacted Covid.”
First year Mandi Lichtenstein flexes her fresh vaccine. We’re jealous, Mandi.
Not trying to catch Covid, but definitely caught vaccine envy? Here’s what to do:
Acknowledge your disappointment; it’s okay to be sad that you’re not protected.
Protect yourself. Keep wearing your masks no matter who has had the vaccine!
Get informed and get in line. Do your research and find out when and how you can get your shot!
Call around to pharmacies to check for extra vaccines
Keep these tips in mind while you wait, and hopefully, everyone who wants to be vaccinated will be soon.